Italy, Portugal, Hungary

Italy: message for the Day for Life”True youth dwells and flourishes in all those who are open to life. It is witnessed by those who welcome this gift – sometimes mysterious and delicate – and by those who decide to be its servant and not master for himself and others”. These were the opening remarks of the Permanent Episcopal Council for the 34th Day for Life, that will be celebrated on February 5 2012. The title of the message is “Youth open to life”. “If the youth are not educated to the sense and to the respect and enhancement of life, we end up impoverishing everyone’s existence – the bishops write – while social coexistence is doomed to disruption prompting the alienation of the weaker brackets”. As by tradition of the previous messages also in their message for the next national Day the bishops refer to the central theme of the defence of life from the beginning to its natural termination. They say that “abortion and euthanasia are the extreme and tragic consequences of a mindset that nullifies life and thus makes these practices appear as the lesser of two evils. In reality, life is a non-negotiable asset, since any compromise will pave the way to acts that violate the weak and defenceless”. Indeed, “in order to educate the youth to life there must be adults that rejoice over the gift of life, whereby cynicism, calculation, or the quest for power and career don’t prevail, and where entertainment is not an end in itself”. Many young people, “in all kinds of human and social situations, only wait for an adult with enthusiasm for life that will present them with a path leading to the fascinating adventure of life without engaging in phoney moralism and hypocrisy”. The document states “it is a call that the Church has always felt and by which she is challenged and guided today. For this, she reiterates it to everyone – adults, institutions and social bodies -, so that those who love life may feel their responsibility for the future”. “Many admirable initiatives were taken in defence of life promoted by individuals, associations and movements. This service is often silent and discreet – continue the bishops – and it can deliver prodigious results. It is example of the best Italy, ready to help all those in need”.Portugal: priority to the formation of the priesthoodIn his first pastoral letter titled “Seminary as a workshop of experience for the present and for the future” the new bishop of the diocese of Bragança-Miranda, Msgr. José Cordeiro, claimed that the shortage of priestly vocations can be overcome only with the conversion of all Catholics: “We have to admit that each one of us does not answer in full to the call of God and of his Church, both within the family and in the working environment, in movements, in the parish and in religious congregations”. In the document drawn up in the occasion of the next Week of the Vocations, celebrated November 6-13, the youngest Portuguese bishop outlined the educational priorities of the candidates to the priesthood; starting with their human virtues and their relations ability: “From the general balance of the personality to the assumption of pastoral responsibilities; from the profound attention towards the human soul to the sense of justice and loyalty”. Referring to the community dimension, the former dean of the Pontifical College in Rome considers it important to “overcome serious obstacles, such as an individualistic and narcissistic attitude, the tendency to isolation, competitiveness and the quest for personal promotion”. Priestly spiritual formation must regard above all “the meditated reading and prayer recital of the Word of God and the practice of the Sacraments by deepening the quest of Christ in mankind and generous self-bestowal”. Ultimately, the pastoral letter underlines “the importance of the educators and the need for their qualified academic learning”. “This demands on the part of the diocese ongoing attention, pastoral sacrifice and economic investments, so that the priests may always keep the pace with topical events: if the life of a Father is not the result of ongoing formation, it develops into permanent frustration”, concluded Msgr. Cordeiro.Hungary: Mass media architectural prizeFor the seventh time in Hungary the architectural Media Prise was awarded by a jury of ten personalities including editors and journalist of electronic media and of the press along with representatives of independent media. In the category of the buildings built and renovated in 2010, the first prize was awarded to the Home for the Pilgrims and the Forestal Chapel of Pannonhalma, designed by architects Tamás Czigány, Róbert Papp ed András Cseh. The buildings with a saddle roof are part and parcel of the local architectural landscape and countryside with the features of contemporary architecture. In the building categories also other Church premises ranked amongst the first ten. These include the Cellar of the Primate in the city of Esztergom, which ranked third in the public voting. After a thorough restoration last year it recovered its original function as wine cellar, to include also a restaurant gallery and wine museum, where the wines of Hungary’s wineries are presented. Among the top buildings were awarded also the Home of the Priarists in Budapest, a jewel in the historical centre of the city, which is part of the cultural heritage of Unesco on the Danube shores.